Just when the Black River boys basketball team started to get a little momentum, Lukan Harris tipped it back in favor of Holland Calvary.

Harris tipped the ball away from the River Rats on two consecutive possessions and turned them into baskets to propel the Crusaders to the 56-44 victory Tuesday at Holland Christian High School.

“It is so much nicer of a feeling,” said Harris, who helped Calvary avenge its first loss to Black River. “It is huge for the seniors to beat our rivals in the last game.”

The Crusaders improved to 8-4 in the Alliance League and 9-5 overall thanks to a 26-17 rebounding advantage. Black River dropped to 9-3 in the Alliance League and 10-4 overall.

The River Rats are a half game ahead of Holland Calvary and Fruitport Calvary and a full game ahead of Wyoming Potter's House.

“This is our third time playing them. We know what they are running, they know what we are running. It is about who does something.” Calvary coach Lanny DeWitt said. “Now the league winner will have at least three losses — we hope it will be four.”

Defensively, Calvary shut down Black River, holding the River Rats scoreless the first four minutes of the second half.

When Isaac Mogck finally broke through with a basket and Black River got a couple of defensive stops, Harris snagged two steals, converting the first for a layup and the second leading to a Josh Wedeven jumper and a 34-25 lead.

“The first steal came on a play they were running the whole game toward my guy,” Harris said. “I read it and got the ball. The second one, I figured if I could get my hand on it going inside that I would at least tip it.”

Alex Angerer added eight points and Josiah Panning had seven. Panning had six in the first quarter before getting into foul trouble.

“I don’t think our focus was there,” Black River coach Kyle Lawton said. “We had too many bad passes and balls going through our hands. They did the same things we saw before. They packed it inside the paint and dared us to shoot. It gets a little frustrating when the shots aren’t falling.”

Johnson hit two 3s early in the fourth quarter to help the Crusaders maintain a lead.

“They don’t care who scores,” DeWitt said. “Lukan has come around as one of our leaders. It is pick your poison with he and Johnson. I actually don’t think (Lukan) shoots enough. He likes to drive — and tonight, that got their big men into foul trouble.”